Posts Tagged ‘
google ’

If you saw Rio the movie, then you probably saw Rio 2 this past spring–and loved it just as much! The music, the bright colors, and the friendly comedy throughout, makes it a great “must- see” for the entire family.

With its recent Blu-Ray and DVD release, you can own a copy for your kids to watch over and over again. From long car rides to the beach, to waiting at the airport terminal and trying to keep your kiddos entertained during the flight, Rio 2 is your film for the summer!

To enter, leave a comment below, up to one a day between today and the end of the day on July 22. Be sure to check back on June 23 and scroll to the bottom of the post to see who won. We reach out to winners via Facebook message (it goes into your “other” message folder on Facebook), so if you win, look for us there as well. We’ve also posted all the Official Rules. Goody luck!

Based on the number of people who own smartphones and tablets, everyone appears to be a tech enthusiast these days. The latest must-have–Google Glass–recently became available to the public, allowing users to navigate town wearing a small, computer-like device (if they’re willing to shell out $1,500, that is).

A few weeks ago, at Google Glass’s Travel Event, I had the chance to test out the glasses themselves and explore some of their travel-themed features, apps which many smartphone users may already utilize via their handheld device. Restaurant enthusiasts, take note: Glass users can access reservation service OpenTable and set dinner plans in stone using taps and a few simple commands. While the program had some difficulty understanding my requests (my hometown of Bethesda, Maryland, didn’t register even when one of the pros tried!), it was neat (and a little silly) to stand in a room and have Glass “listen” to my voice as I navigated the app. Got a little one? App-using moms who wish to complete tasks hands-free will enjoy the accessibility Glass provides while on-the-go with Baby.

Perhaps the most interesting–and possibly most helpful–feature I tried was Word Lens, which translates words and short phrases, such as those that appear on street signs and buildings. While wearing the glasses, I viewed signs that were written in Russian, and if I looked at the text from the correct angle, Glass could translate the word in front of me into English. What was especially interesting was that Glass didn’t change anything else about the building or background on which the phrase appeared. Note to self: This would have made my travels in Prague much less confusing!

While obviously the most important aspect of Google Glass is what it can do, the way the device looks is customizable. Buyers can purchase glasses with colorful components, order prescription lenses, and more. Still, the look is more techy than fashionable–if form is more important to you than function, you may not wish to sport these flashy frames.

I’ve seen the future–maybe–and it is Google. But you knew that already, no?

I was among a group of journalists invited to an event yesterday in which Google showed off some of their latest and greatest products, including the much-discussed Google Glass (worn by a Google staffer in the photo at the right). In a space set up to simulate a household, they showed, room-by-room, the magic that Google applications can make.

The presenters kept reiterating that Google knows “everyone is on the go,” and has designed its products to cater to that busy lifestyle. That’s doubly true for us parents, whether we’re running after the little ones, or carpooling the older ones. To that end, here are some of the highlights of what saw at the event:

Voice-Activated SearchVoice search has come a long way. Using the Google search app from your mobile device, click the microphone icon and speak your query. On Android devices, it will speak right back at you, but that isn’t available on my iPhone, where I have to settle for it following my commands silently. Its ability to understand what you’re saying is solid, and beyond just searching the web, you can ask for directions, add items to your calendar, and send emails, all without typing.

Nutritional InformationFood-related searches will now bring up full nutritional information on foods. So you’ll be able to say exactly how many calories that slice of pizza will set you back or how much protein that smoothie will give you. This just launched today, so it’s hot off the presses.

Google GlassWhat would a look at Google and the future be without discussing Google Glass, that tiny, wearable computer that clips onto your eyeglass frame? I didn’t get to try it, but did watch a demonstration, which helped me understand both the “what” and “why” of this technology. Glass is an attempt to address two paradoxical problems: We tend to walk around with our faces glued to our phones, while at the same time, we’ve all wished we could get to our phones–the camera, especially–quicker, before missing that unique moment. Glass sits just above your field of vision and is controlled by a swipe or tap of your finger, and significantly, your voice. Record a video, snap a picture, get step-by-step directions as you walk, send an email, all without breaking stride or burying your face in a phone. Imagine being able to actually capture your child’s first steps on video–while also being there to catch her when she stumbles.

Will it catch on? Only time will tell. Now, how about the self-driving car?

Westwood High School Students In Arizona Forced To Hold Hands As Punishment For Fighting
When two Westwood High School students got in a fist fight during class this week, Principal Tim Richards gave the teens an choice: suspension or public humiliation — by sitting next to each other holding hands in the school courtyard. (via Huffington Post)

Emigration of Children to Urban Areas Can Protect Parents Against Depression
Parents whose children move far away from home are less likely to become depressed than parents with children living nearby, according to a new study. The study suggests that children who migrate to urban areas are more likely to financially support their parents, which may be a factor for lower levels of depression. (via ScienceDaily)

Google Gives $23 Million To Charities To Spur Innovation, Help Girls And Minority Students
Google is announcing $23 million in grants to spur innovation among charities and increase education for girls and minority students in science and technology. (via Huffington Post)

Scientists Find Gene Link to Teenage Binge Drinking
Scientists have unpicked the brain processes involved in teenage alcohol abuse and say their findings help explain why some young people have more of a tendency to binge drink (via Reuters)

Contact Sports Leave Pattern of Brain Injuries, Study Finds
Years of hits to the head in football or other contact sports lead to a distinct pattern of brain damage that begins with an athlete having trouble focusing and can eventually progress to aggression and dementia, a study released on Monday says. (via NBC News)

A laptop for $249? It does exist–and not just on Black Friday! Google’s new Chromebook, in a partnership with Samsung, is thin, light, and has an aesthetic design similar to the pricey Apple laptops. So what’s the catch? It doesn’t run off of Windows or the Apple OS. Instead, it runs off of a system designed by Google, which allows for Chrome web apps. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a first computer for your kid or even a second family computer for Web-surfing or to take with you on the go. Click here for more information on the Samsung Chromebook.

Thinking about a quick getaway for Memorial Day weekend? Before you finalize your plans, explore family-friendly places by using Google Maps Street View. If you’re not familiar with this free tool, it gives you a 360-degree street level look at popular U.S. and world destinations (zoos, amusement parks, public parks, landmarks, museums, etc.). From the comfort of your own home computer or smartphone, preview places to determine if you want to visit them in person.

What’s in a Name? Ask Google
In our still-budding digital world, where public and private spheres cross-pollinate in unpredictable ways, perhaps it’s not surprising that soon-to-be parents now routinely turn to Google to vet baby names.

Young Adults’ Coverage May Cost Parents Even More
An increasing number of employers are turning to “per participant” or “unitized” pricing so an employee’s payroll contribution increases with each dependent a worker adds to their coverage, according to Aon Hewitt, a large Chicago benefits consultancy.

The contest is only open to students in the U.S. While kids from kindergarten through 12th grade can enter the contest, just one national winner will be chosen to have the winning doodle displayed on the Google homepage on May 20, 2011. Plus, the chosen winner will win a $15,000 college scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for the school he or she attends. Three national finalists, 40 regional finalists, and 400 state finalists will also be chosen to receive various prizes.